‘Namma Kambala’ ends on a high, amid huge footfall and excitement

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Bengaluru's maiden 'Kambala' came to an end at the Palace Grounds late on Sunday. Around 160 pairs of 'Kona' buffaloes were contested, and one winner was announced in the evening.

Kambala, despite delays due to organisational and guest interruptions, saw much excitement from the large gathering, which is estimated to be 3-4 lakhs people.

The knockout rounds which started on Saturday night, were expected to be completed late on Sunday.

Over six categories in Kambala, one champion in the ‘Kane Halege’ category was announced the winner on Sunday.

The winner of this category is judged based on how high the water drop reaches off the footsteps of the buffalo pair. Buffaloes-"Appu" and "Kutty'' owned by Bolamballi Parameshwar Bhatt won the gold medal as it remained the only pair to have a water droplet reach six and a half feet high.

This was the same pair, which was jockeyed by actor Rishab Shetty for the much renowned Kannada film ‘Kantara’ was viewed with much excitement by the crowd.

However the winners in five other categories including plough- junior & senior (Negilu Kiriya and Hiriya), Rope- junior & senior (Hagga Kiriya and Hiriya) and Cross plank (Adda Halage) were not decided until Sunday night.

The crowd on Sunday doubled in numbers as of 5:45 pm, from one lakh on Saturday, as it was expected to be the final day of ‘Bengaluru Kambala’ at Palace Grounds.

However several people including those who had come from other districts, to watch the sport, complained of the poor management. Even the VIP and VVIP ticket holders claimed to have found it difficult to enter the gallery built for them.

The area for the general public saw lapses of security as kids were witnessed sneaking through the barricades closer to the track which would have posed life threatening risk to them.

The sport, which was expected to conclude in the evening, also got delayed owing to the welcoming of guests and tinkering in the starting point. In the Quarterfinal stage, where two pairs of Konas were called to the starting point at 4 pm, only proceeded to the race at 4:50 pm, owing to guest entries of politicians and film stars.

The ‘Kambala’ is a rural sport predominantly played in the Coastal part of Karnataka. It gained fame in the renowned film ‘Kantara.’ Around 160 pairs of Kona buffaloes travelled 360 kilometres to take part in the ‘Bengaluru Kambala’ and the sport attracted several foreigners apart from people from different parts of the state.

Famous celebrities from the film world such as Pooja Hegde, Upendra and Rakshit Shetty graced the event on Sunday. Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar, wife of late Puneeth Rajkumar, joined the spectators on both the days of Kambala.